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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


BY 


THEODORE C. ATCHISON 


NEW YORK 
THE SHANDON PRESS 
1923 


<2o 







VS 35 ol 

U f 3 As 

I*? 2.3 


Copyright, 1923 
By Theodore C. Atchison \ 


AUC24 *23 


©C1A756297 



-Tax* / V 



3 * > 


contribution in the effort to reawaken 
America consciousness of duty toward 
an uncompleted task. 



AMERICA’S LIGHT 



I 















AMERICA’S LIGHT 


In fateful hour America stood 
Irresolute, enthrall’d, in awe; 

While Belgium with her noblest blood 
Upheld the majesty of law; 

And bravely dared to meet the blow, 
The fire and sword of Teuton foe. 


[9] 




AMERICA’S LIGHT 


And, then, when France upon her shield 
Bore the invader’s savage thrust; 

Each fallen town, each blood soaked field, 
An added token of Prussian lust, 

And blood ran red from Liege to Marne 
We did not speak, we did not warn. 


[10] 







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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


A thousand years of rights and laws, 

Proud heritage the world had won 
Through blood and tears in freedom’s cause. 
Were challeng’d by the boastful Hun, 

And yet we dallied and forbore, 

Forgot the faith our fathers swore. 


[ii] 

















AMERICA’S LIGHT 


Though great our strength we stood aside 
And throve in schemes of mart and trade; 
Far distant from the crimson tide 
We counted gains the war had made, 

And long beheld the Teuton horde 
Impale the world upon a sword. 


[12] 





AMERICA’S LIGHT 


War’s dreadful scourge in toll of death 
Had millions claim’d and still swept on, 
And centuries of garner’d wealth 
Into red holocaust had gone 
Ere America’s strength; our flag unfurl’d, 
Gave courage to a stricken world. 


[13] 




















AMERICA’S LIGHT 


We heard voices of children call, 

Their sires’ appeals of wild despair, 
And the cries of the dead; of all 
Who strove in crimson’d clutch of war. 
The world at arms, red with its blood. 
Awoke the ties of brotherhood. 


[14] 





































AMERICA’S LIGHT 


O’er fields where Hun and Vandal horde 
Spread the terror of dread renown, 

And mad Attila, with dripping sword, 
Sought to gain the Visigoth crown, 

The world beheld democracy’s brave 
Sweep on to victory or the grave. 


[ 16 ] 









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1 







AMERICA’S LIGHT 


And God who notes the sparrow’s fall, 
And tempers winter winds that blow, 
Will ever hear the prayerful call, 

The accents of a people’s woe. 

Portals of His grace open wide 
To chasten’d heart and humbl’d pride. 


[ 18 ] 













AMERICA’S LIGHT 


* * * * * * 

Pray walk these fields with solemn tread. 
View all the scene with tearful eye; 

Here sleep our great, heroic dead, 

Who fighting fell where now they lie; 
Freedom’s sacrifice to war’s lust, 
Number’d with earth’s eternal dust. 


[19] 









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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


Nation ne’er essay’d nobler pow’rs 
Than to America peace now brought; 
Leadership of the world was ours, 

To lead from ruin the war had wrought. 
And seal the pledge we made our slain 
They should not suffer and die in vain. 


[20] 























AMERICA’S LIGHT 


But a stubborn few in power’s place, 
Unable to lead, would not be led; 
Though valiant in a mouthy race 
Loquacious grew on what they fed. 
And when our hopes in peril hung 
Abandon’d all in clash of tongue. 


[21] 






















AMERICA’S LIGHT 


To hate and greed, foul brood of war. 
These bold obstructors made appeal; 
Disdain’d the kin that all men are 
And scorn’d the love that brothers feel; 
Forgot our dead and all our maim’d. 
Forswore the cause we had acclaim’d. 


[22] 






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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


Shall partisans risk in foolish pride, 

Like reckless gamblers risk in play, 

The things for which our sons have died? 
Shall artful marplots bar the way 
Though all the world in anguish cries? 
The spirit of the people dies? 


[23] 

























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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


With money lords must statesmen share 
Their views of state which they may hold? 
A people’s woe; their dark despair, 

Be measur’d by the clink of gold? 

All their hopes for their stricken lands 
Lie in the hollow of bankers’ hands? 


[24] 




























AMERICA’S LIGHT 


Does impious fate, or vice, or wrong, 

Ill warp’d mind, or timorous heart. 

Beguile our nation, strongest of the strong. 
That now we play a weakling’s part? 
Though the world in anguish calls our name? 
Prays us quench its consuming flame? 


[25] 



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AMERICA’S LIGHT 


They who fell when Columbia led 
For freedom’s cause in her natal hour, 

And they who fell, glorious dead, 

In strife that seal’d our nation’s pow’r;— 
They died in vain shall America’s Light 
Fail to lead through the world’s dark night. 


[26] 












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